In article , "David
Hare-Scott" wrote:

"Tuletess" wrote in message
...
Have planted this 6' tree in the ground & it appears to be doing well by
the
side of my house in shade. In a recent storm, it blew over, but did not
snap
off. Qestion: can I cut the tree back a few feet & expect it to put out
new
growth, or will this kill it? It's possible that I can stake it to the
nearby
fence.

Thanks!

You planted a Norfolk Island Pine next to your house! These grow to over
100 ft tall in good conditions. If it gets half that size the roots will
wreck your foundations and any branches that fall (which is quite likely
over a period of years) will wreck your roof. Not to mention the constant
stream of pine needles and pinecones that will cover your roof and fill your
drainage.

I suggest moving it while it is small.

David

Yup. It is one of the more dangerous trees to be within reach of a house
because blow-down of Norfolks is very common. We don't live where Norfolks
thrive, but we have a Douglas fir nearby which similarly is shallowly
rooted even when it becomes a giant, & they blow down more commonly than
other giant trees. Fortunately a Douglas fir grows a bit more slowly than
a Norfolk & by the time it's a danger to the house I'll likely be dead &
someone else will have to pay somebody to climb way up top & take it down
segment by segment for an extravagant fee lest it keel over & crush a
couple of houses.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/